1
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
an unreal claim that is distant from the slightest hint of truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
the unreal world of TV sitcoms
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unreal
Inequality grew, especially at the very top, where individuals amassed unfathomable wealth (hundreds of billions of dollars) and some corporate valuations hit unreal heights ($4 trillion to $5 trillion).
—
Andrew Winston, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
The solution, according to the ad, is to walk into a warm, cozy, unreal McDonald’s restaurant and hide out until January.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Gates is an actor, director and journalist with a background in documentary making, and the Atropia project was originally approached as a documentary before evolving into an unreal satire.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The picture quality on this 65-inch Samsung S90F is unreal.
—PC Magazine, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreal
Andrew Winston, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
The solution, according to the ad, is to walk into a warm, cozy, unreal McDonald’s restaurant and hide out until January.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Gates is an actor, director and journalist with a background in documentary making, and the Atropia project was originally approached as a documentary before evolving into an unreal satire.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The picture quality on this 65-inch Samsung S90F is unreal.
—PC Magazine, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreal
Adjective
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Nowhere with the history or absurd beauty.—
Antonia Quirke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
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And there’s even more absurd add-ons that are completely ridiculous, that have absolutely no basis in fact.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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An imaginary line drawn through the stars Bellatrix in Orion and Alnitak (the lowest star in Orion's Belt), extended about twice its own length, also leads to Murzam.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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And there are no effects, there are no imaginary monsters.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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His work is marked by unusual, even bizarre, material choices that encrust spatial compositions reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovative open space plans.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
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Some unnamed Chicago bartender in the early 1880s had the improbable idea of taking a Whiskey Sour and adding a little red wine to the top, inventing in a bizarre flash of insightone of the great warm weather whiskey drinks of our time.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The state has lost track of roughly 30,000 children believed to be receiving vouchers, but the state already knows that some fraudulent organizations created fictitious students and claimed vouchers in their name.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
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The film opens with an introduction to Ministry of Not Forgetting, a fictitious research facility where Tilda Swinton and George MacKay are seen opening an inquiry into Faithfull’s life and career.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Each residence is just steps away from the beach, so close that putting on shoes would be foolish.—
Alex Postman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
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But Cash’s most original and engaging writing is slightly out of step with reality and bleakly funny, devoted to wordplay and willing to be foolish about it.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Since then, fans have been looking for more ways to dive into their obsession over the love story between fictional hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
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Baron Cohen’s portrayal of Borat, a fictional journalist from the former Soviet state, plays into stereotypes held by Westerners about the central Asian country while satirizing the United States, where Borat tries to trick politicians and others into compromising themselves.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This moment marked the crux of a seemingly insane personal challenge that Liberato—an ultrarunner, coach, and yes, regular psychedelics user—took on in 2025.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
22 Jan. 2026
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What's going on in Minneapolis is insane Come on.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Coogler's Jim Crow-era film -- the rare horror movie to win the academy's favor -- conjures a mythical allegory of Black life.—
JAKE COYLE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
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Coogler’s Jim Crow-era film — the rare horror movie to win the academy’s favor — conjures a mythical allegory of Black life.—
Jake Coyle,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unreal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreal. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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